Reasons for and patterns of tooth extractions among patients seen at Machakos District Hospital Dental Clinic

Background: Tooth extraction is a common form of treatment undertaken for various dental presenting complains. Among them are dental caries with reversible or irreversible pulpitis,periodontitis and preprosthetic treatment

Study design: This was a descriptive cross sectional study

Objective: The study was to determine the reasons and patterns of tooth extractions among residents of Machakos district

Study area: The study was be conducted among patients attending Machakos district hospital dental clinic by analyzing their treatment records

Methodology: The study population comprised of patients attending Machakos district hospital dental clinic who have undergone tooth extraction as form of treatment. Stratified random sampling was used to select 137 patients health records. A data collection form was used to record data for the following variables age,gendecresidence,occupation,reasons for tooth extraction, type of tooth extracted and type of extraction carried out(simple or surgical)

Results: Dental caries accounted for 56% of extractions followed by periodontal disease 33%.periodontal disease accounted for 66. 7%of extractions in the 61-70 years age group. Lower posterior teeth extracted were 39.8% upper posterior teeth 28.9%.All teeth extracted due to trauma were upper anteriors

Conclusion: Dental caries accounted for the greatest number of extractions followed by periodontal disease.The number of teeth extracted due to periodontal disease increased with age.More lower posterior teeth were extracted.

Recommendations:level of community oral health awareness on the reasons of tooth loss should be increased.

The aim of this study was to determine the reasons for and patterns of tooth
extractions in machakos district so that this knowledge can be used in community
oral health education on the preventive measures necessary for reducing tooth loss.
This data can also be applied for other Kenyan districts with the same setting as
machakos.